How to turn off Xiaomi if the screen is broken: 5 working ways

When the touch screen of a Xiaomi smartphone stops responding to touch or is completely broken, it can take the wearer by surprise, at which point the device often continues to operate in the background, consuming battery power and heating up. If you can’t use the standard menu to complete the work, you need to use alternative methods of forced system shutdown.

There are several proven ways to force the device to turn off that don't require interaction with the display, which range from simply clamping physical buttons to using specialized software through a computer, and it's important to understand which method will work for your model, whether it's a budget Redmi or a flagship Mi.

In this guide, we will cover all available options, including using the Mi Remote remote, ADB command line, and Recovery mode. Following the right sequence of actions will help you safely shut down your device without damaging system files or overheating components. Let's break down each method in detail.

Forced reboot method through physical buttons

The very first and affordable way to try is to use a hardware keyboard combination. Virtually all modern Xiaomi smartphones feature a Hard Reset or forced reset function that is activated by long-term power button retention, which is built into the power controller level and works even when the Android operating system is completely got stuck.

To do this, you need to find an on button, which is usually located on the side of the body, depending on the model, it can be the right or left side. Press the button and hold it in a clamped state. Don't let go of your finger immediately, even if you feel a slight vibration.

It can take 10 to 20 seconds. In some cases, the device will try to take a screenshot first (with a short press), but your job is to ignore that and keep the button on. If the screen is partially functional and you see the menu, just wait until the backlight goes out. If the display is black, focus on the tactile vibration sensations and the sound of the system speaker.

⚠️ Warning: Don't panic if the phone starts vibrating several times in a row. This is normal behavior when trying to reset the hanging processes before turning off completely.

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If the power button is inflated or has a backlash, try pressing it not with a finger pad, but with a nail or blunt object with a wide area to ensure uniform pressure on the entire mechanism of the button.

After the device goes out, wait a few seconds before re-energizing, which will allow the capacitors on the motherboard to completely discharge, which is especially useful if the cause of the freeze was a static charge or a temporary failure of the memory controller.

Using a combination of volume and power buttons

If long-term retention of the power button does not work, you can resort to a more complex combination of keys. Many devices running MIUI there is a bundle that puts the smartphone in Recovery or Fastboot mode, from which you can also initiate shutdown or restart.

Entering Recovery mode usually requires both the power and Volume Up buttons to be pressed simultaneously. Hold both keys until the Mi logo or recovery menu appears. This menu often doesn't require a touch screen, as navigation is done with volume buttons and power buttons.

• 🔘 Hold the Power. + Volume Up at the same time 10-15 seconds.
• 📉 Use volume buttons to move around the menu if it appears.
• 🛑 Select "Power Off" or "Reboot" if the menu is displayed.

In Fastboot mode, which is triggered by the power and Volume Down buttons, you can also find the shutdown option. The Fastboot screen usually displays a logo with a hare repairing an android. To exit this mode and turn off the phone, it is often enough to simply hold the power button for 10 seconds until the screen goes out.

It is worth noting that on some global versions of the firmware MIUI Recovery login may require connection USB-If the menu doesn't appear, try connecting the smartphone to your computer or charger while you press the buttons. This can activate an additional download mode selection dialog.

Remote shutdown via Mi Remote and IR port

A unique feature of many Xiaomi smartphones is the presence of an integrated infrared port (IR Blaster).If your device is equipped with this module and the screen is not working completely, you can use the Mi Remote feature to emulate the shutdown command as if you were pressing a button on the TV remote.

You’ll need a different smartphone with an IR port (or the same Xiaomi if the touchscreen is partially responsive at the bottom of the screen) and Mi Remote app. However, if your phone’s screen is completely dead, this method will only work in conjunction with connecting a mouse or keyboard (see next section) to control the interface, or if you have an automation script set up.

⚠️ Warning: The infrared port only works within line of sight and over a short distance. Make sure the IR port is directed to a receiver of another device or a special IR camera if you use the emulation method.

A more realistic scenario for using an IR port in this context is smart home management. If you have scripts set up in the Mi Home app, you can try activating the voice assistant (if it responds to sound) or using another device to send a command. However, it is impossible to directly turn off the smartphone itself via the IR port without access to the interface, since the IR port on Xiaomi mainly works on signaling, rather than receiving system control commands.

However, having an IR port allows you to use the phone as a remote for other equipment, which can be indirectly useful if you want to turn off, for example, the TV or air conditioner while you solve a smartphone problem.

Connection USB-mouse or keyboard through OTG

One of the most effective ways to get around a broken touchscreen is by using a USB OTG (On-The-Go) adapter, which allows you to connect peripherals like a computer mouse or keyboard to your smartphone, and if the display even partially shows the image, the mouse cursor will help you get to the off button.

To implement this method, you'll need a USB-to-Type-C adapter (or Micro-USB, depending on your Xiaomi connector) and a regular wired USB mouse. Once you plug in the mouse, a cursor should appear on the screen. Even if the sensor doesn't work, the cursor will move around, allowing you to click on the right interface elements.

If the screen doesn't show the image at all (black screen), but the phone is working, connecting the mouse can still help. In some cases, pressing the left or right mouse button can activate the screen or trigger a menu that allows blind navigation based on sound signals or approximate location of elements.

• 🖱️ Connect the adapter. OTG smartphone-charging connector.
• 🔌 Put it in. USB-mouse-adapter.
• ⏳ Wait for the cursor or audio signal of the connection.
• 👆 Try swiping up to unlock and click on the off icon.

Using the keyboard is also effective: pressing the Power key (if emulated) or combinations like Alt+F4 (It can work in rare cases, but most often, the keyboard is used to type. PIN-If the touchscreen doesn't respond and the image is there, you can try to feel the power button in the menu after unlocking.

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The OTG adapter is a lifeline when the sensor is broken, allowing you to fully control the smartphone interface using a normal computer mouse.

Turning off your smartphone via computer and ADB

For advanced users who previously had the option of debugging on the smartphone USB (USB Debugging, there is a powerful tool – Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method allows you to send commands directly to the operating system from a computer, bypassing the need to touch the screen.

First, you need to install ADB drivers on your computer (Windows, macOS or Linux). Then connect your smartphone with a cable to your PC. If debugging is allowed and your computer is authorized, you can execute a command to turn off. Open the command line or terminal in the folder with ADB.

adb shell reboot -p

This command reboot-p initiates a power off procedure. If the first command fails, you can try an alternative that forcibly shuts down the system process responsible for the interface, which sometimes leads to a shutdown:

adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.REQUEST_SHUTDOWN

It is important to understand that if the screen is black and the phone is locked, the ADB may not have access to the system without prior confirmation on the screen ("Allow debugging from this computer?").

If USB debugging wasn't enabled in advance, this method won't work, but knowing these commands is useful for future situations, so it's a good idea to keep debugging on if you're experimenting with the system often.

What to do if the battery is not removable and nothing helps

In the extreme case, when software methods and buttons do not respond, and the phone continues to warm or consume charge, the last physical method remains. Since modern Xiaomi smartphones have non-removable batteries, it is difficult to get to the battery without opening the case, but it is possible to discharge the device in an emergency way.

You can leave your smartphone on with the maximum brightness of the screen (if it shows anything) and running a heavy app or video. This will speed up battery drain to zero. If the screen is black, you can turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot or Bluetooth, which will also quickly land the battery. However, this is not recommended for lithium polymer batteries, since deep discharge can damage them.

A safer, but risky, method is waiting. Just leave your phone alone. Xiaomi's current power controllers are smart enough to go into deep sleep if the system is getting stuck and after a few days the battery will still run out. But it's best not to bring it to that.

⚠️ Warning: Opening the case of a smartphone to turn off the battery plume will deprive you of an official warranty).

If the phone is warming to critical temperatures, it is best to immediately contact the service center. Specialists have special tools to safely turn off power without damaging the body and electronics. Self-picking with a screwdriver can damage the screen plume or puncture the battery.

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